Kochi: Relatives of S R Sreejith, who died in police custody, identified the policemen who had taken the deceased youth into custody.
Akhila, Sreejith’s wife, identified the accused cops – Jithin Raj, Sumesh and Santosh Kumar – at the identification parade held at Kakkanad district jail on Tuesday. Sources said fourteen people, apart from the trio, were paraded.
Sreejith’s younger brother Sajith, mother Shyamala and neighbour Ajith also identified the accused policemen, who were part of the now-disbanded rural task force (RTF). The parade was held in the presence of Aluva magistrate Reno Francis Xavier and it lasted for over an hour, said sources.
The accused policemen and fourth accused Varappuzha sub-Inspector GS Deepak have been lodged in the same prison under judicial custody.
However, five days ago a video clip had emerged on social media that showed the trio claiming innocence. The officers’ faces were clearly visible in the footage in which they alleged that they were made scapegoats to protect higher-ups.
Meanwhile, the medical board, constituted to ascertain the nature and timing of the injuries caused to the deceased based on the autopsy report, is yet to file a report before the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case. Sources said the report was expected to be handed over in a couple of days.
As per the autopsy report, blunt abdominal trauma and related complications have led to the death of Sreejith.
Meanwhile, the SIT probing the case in which Sreejith was taken into custody is yet to arrest the main accused in that case.
The case on the attack of the residence of Vasudevan and his subsequent suicide hit a roadblock even as all arrested accused were granted bail.
The first, second, third and sixth accused in the case, identified as Vipin, Vinju, Thulasidas and Ajith, have been absconding since April 6.
Meanwhile, Sreejith’s fmaily on Tuesday received a letter threatening them to withdraw the case or else Sreejith’s brother would too face a similar fate. The from address reads ‘Shadow squad, TVM rural’. The letter makes reference to a few police officers working under Thiruvanathapuram rural SP and warned them of police torture methods.Thiruvanthapuram rural SP Ashok Kumar said the letter should be probed.